The Trump family’s cryptocurrency initiative, World Liberty Financial, has significantly increased their wealth by billions of dollars as its native token, $WLFI, began trading on public exchanges this week. This development has reignited debates about potential conflicts of interest given former President Donald Trump’s ongoing involvement in crypto while having held public office.
World Liberty Financial, co-founded by Donald Trump and his sons, made a notable splash when their $WLFI token started trading Monday, quickly becoming one of the top cryptocurrencies globally. The token initially surged to approximately 40 cents before settling near 23 cents, translating to an estimated $5 billion valuation for the Trump family’s holdings based on public disclosures indicating they control about 22.5 billion $WLFI tokens.
The project was first announced by Eric Trump last summer during the 2024 presidential campaign, promising a “new era of finance.” To date, the company’s primary tangible product remains the WLFI token itself and an associated stablecoin named USD1. The family’s corporate entity reportedly owns a 60% stake in World Liberty Financial, positioning their crypto assets alongside their traditional real estate portfolio in terms of value.
Despite this paper wealth, the Trump family’s tokens are currently locked under a vesting schedule, preventing immediate liquidation of their $WLFI holdings. World Liberty Financial stated that tokens held by the founding “Team” are subject to a lockup, allowing sales of up to 20% per the company’s guidelines since trading commenced. This mechanism means the $5 billion valuation is largely theoretical for now but nonetheless signifies rapid growth in their crypto portfolio.
The open market launch of $WLFI has generated more than $1 billion in transactions within the first hour, according to crypto data aggregators. The token’s rise coincided with Trump’s administration’s deregulatory approach to cryptocurrencies, with Trump once serving as the firm’s “Chief Crypto Advocate” before being listed as “Co-Founder Emeritus” after assuming office.
This intertwining of political power and private crypto enterprise has drawn criticism and concerns over ethical boundaries. Experts highlight that such conflicts of interest have historical precedents with former presidents managing business interests during their tenure, but they stress the importance of transparency and safeguards such as blind trusts.
Proponents argue that Trump’s advocacy for crypto could foster financial innovation in the U.S. economy, signaling a move toward embracing emerging technologies at the highest levels of government. However, watchdogs and political analysts emphasize vigilance given the volatility and complex regulatory challenges associated with cryptocurrencies.
As World Liberty Financial continues to develop its product offerings and expand token trading, observers will be monitoring the balance between private gain and public interest, especially during an era where digital assets play an increasing role in global finance.